Leadership Development Institute addresses leadership gaps, enhances future leaders

A competitive program intended for healthcare professionals who desire to develop the competencies, knowledge, and skills necessary to become future leaders within the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

To be considered for LDI, employees are encouraged to apply when the annual notice for applicants is released, which typically occurs in October. Once the application acceptance period closes, selection panels review each application package, looking for specific qualities and experiences that exemplify the potential to be a good leader. According to Dr. Rebecca Kelley, Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) DLO, the competition to be chosen for LDI is significant.

“There are several areas where applicants can improve their odds of being chosen, like ensuring written responses contain proper grammar, flow, and accuracy,” Kelley said. “Also, if your application is not organized or presented well, that’s not going to translate well [to the selection panel].”

Kelley went on to list other areas where applications can be improved:

• Committee and leadership involvement at the VA and in the private sector
• Volunteer work or leadership outside of work
• Education (a master’s degree receives maximum points)
• Going above and beyond at work
• Representing your experience well in written format

For the 2022 cycle, out of 19 applicants, four Cincinnati VAMC employees were identified as possessing the potential to be leaders and were invited to participate in the program: Nicholas Young (Registered Nurse), Angela Smittie (Social Worker), Sharlene Blair (Research Coordinator), and Dr. Octaviana Hemmy-Asamsama (Clinical Psychologist).

Participants commit to a yearlong program that consists of two weeks of training, studying leadership through educational materials and a book club.

“The book club is designed so individuals at each facility participates in presenting parts of the books to the rest of the group,” Kelley explained. “I’ve seen groups create games and use other innovative strategies to communicate with the rest of the club. Developing innovative leaders is part of what we’re trying to do, so it’s fun to see how creative participants can be.”

All the training and studying isn’t just for fun, according to Kelley. In fact, participants are expected to identify a problem within the VA and work together to complete tasks that will solve the issue at hand. For example, the fiscal year 2021 cohort supported the facilitation of a strategic planning meeting for VA leadership from Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. What was previously a multi-day conference to discuss the future of the tristate VAs had to be condensed into a one-day Microsoft Teams meeting attended by more than 200 stakeholders.

“I would definitely recommend the program, even if you’re in an entry-level management position, I think it can still be very helpful,” Dr. Shari Altum, Cincinnati VAMC Whole Health Manager, said of her LDI experience. “[LDI] gives you a broader perspective. You get to meet people from across the [tristate area] with various backgrounds who have an interest in leadership, and the learning materials are very strong and helpful.”

According to Kelley, participating in LDI results in positives for the VA, for employees, and for Veterans.

“If people have an opportunity to grow within the organization, that helps to increase satisfaction and longevity,” she explained. “All of that leads to better outcomes for Veterans.”

For more information about LDI, employees should contact Dr. Rebecca Kelley at Rebecca.Kelley3@va.gov.